Our team wrote this liposuction guide in October 2026, using the sources listed below each part. It has not had a doctor's review, and it is not medical advice. Whether lipo suits your body is for your surgeon to judge.
What liposuction is, and what it cannot do
healthdirect Australia describes liposuction as cosmetic surgery that reshapes the body by removing fat from under the skin. It says it is not a weight loss method, and it does not remove visceral fat, the fat around your organs. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) adds that it is not a treatment for obesity or for cellulite.
healthdirect lists the areas it is most often used for:
- thighs and buttocks
- abdomen, the stomach area
- arms
- neck and under the chin
It can also be used on the back, inner knee, chest, cheek, calves and ankles. Some people have it combined with another procedure, such as a tummy tuck. ASPS says skin that is soft and thin from weight loss or ageing will not reshape as well, and you may need more surgery to remove and tighten extra skin. You can read about a tummy tuck in Vietnam on its own Beauty Link page.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Who may be suited to liposuction
ASPS says liposuction may suit adults within 30 percent of their ideal weight who have firm, elastic skin and good muscle tone. It also lists good health, no condition that slows healing, and not smoking or vaping. healthdirect adds realistic expectations, and having tried a healthy diet and regular exercise first.
healthdirect suggests speaking to your usual doctor before liposuction, because they can help you manage your overall health. Some people are not a fit for lipo at all, which is why a price should never be your first or only step. Ask your surgeon whether liposuction is suitable for you.
Sources: American Society of Plastic Surgeons, healthdirect Australia, Beauty Link team records
The main types of liposuction, VASER included
ASPS explains that a surgeon makes small cuts, called incisions, then passes a thin tube called a cannula under the skin to loosen fat and suction it out. First, a diluted local anaesthetic is put in to reduce bleeding. healthdirect says you will have either a local or a general anaesthetic.
ASPS names these techniques:
- Traditional liposuction: the cannula breaks up fat and a vacuum removes it.
- Power assisted liposuction: a cannula that vibrates helps break up stubborn fat.
- Ultrasound assisted liposuction: sound vibrations help dissolve the fat.
- VASER liposuction: a newer form of ultrasound assisted liposuction.
- Laser assisted liposuction: a laser helps dissolve the fat.
- Water assisted liposuction: a stream of saline loosens fat cells.
One risk listed for ultrasound methods such as VASER is burns to the skin or deeper tissue. Both ASPS and healthdirect name it.
Fat taken out by liposuction can sometimes be moved to another area. ASPS says moving fat into the buttocks is sometimes called a Brazilian butt lift, and plastic surgery societies have issued an urgent warning about its risks. Beauty Link has a separate page on BBL in Vietnam. Which method fits your body is a question for your surgeon.
Sources: American Society of Plastic Surgeons, healthdirect Australia
Risks and safety to understand before you decide
Every surgery has risks. healthdirect lists these common ones after liposuction:
- uneven skin with ripples or dimples, or baggy skin
- numbness or less feeling in the skin
- scars, bruising, swelling and slow healing
- pockets of fluid under the skin
It lists less common but serious ones too: blood clots in the legs that can travel to the lungs, too much fluid loss, burns from ultrasound, and infection in the fatty tissue. ASPS adds that some people need a second surgery to fix a problem.
Smartraveller's tip: if the lipo risks a hospital abroad quotes sound far lower than what you hear at home, be wary.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Smartraveller
How to check the hospital and the surgeon
We do not send lipo patients to small clinics. Each partner is a full hospital on Vietnam's Ministry of Health register, with its license. Even so, do your own checks before you book.
Smartraveller says to find out if a hospital is accredited by the local authorities, and to check that your surgeon is qualified. Smartraveller also says to confirm both the surgeon and the hospital carry indemnity and malpractice cover. The NHS says you should have 2 consultations with the surgeon treating you, and should not only meet sales staff. Beauty Link also has a page on choosing a Vietnam plastic surgery hospital.
Sources: Beauty Link team records, Smartraveller, NHS
Questions to ask about your liposuction
Here is a list made for liposuction. Paste it into the hospital chat on WhatsApp and ask for written answers before you book. The questions come from healthdirect and ASPS.
- Which type of liposuction do you suggest for me, and why?
- What training do you have, and how often do you do this surgery?
- Will I have a local or a general anaesthetic, and who gives it?
- How much bruising, swelling and pain should I expect?
- How long will I wear a compression garment?
- Will I have stitches or drains, and when do they come out?
- Where will my scars be?
- How are complications handled, and are there extra costs if I need more surgery?
- When is my follow-up visit, when can I fly home, and who do I contact once I am home?
Ask for the answers in writing.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Recovery and when you can fly home
ASPS says you will wear an elastic bandage or a compression garment to reduce swelling and support your body as it heals. Its general timeline looks like this:
- Week 1: pain, swelling and bruising; limit your activity a lot.
- Weeks 2 to 3: you start to feel much better, and some people return to work.
- Weeks 4 to 5: bruising should be gone and swelling starts to go down.
- Week 6 onwards: swelling keeps improving and gentle exercise may start.
ASPS says it can take several months for swelling to fully settle. After liposuction, the NHS guide is to stay off planes for 5 to 7 days. Its reason is clots: both flying and major surgery make one more likely. Treat these as general guides for lipo, and ask your surgeon what applies to you.
Sources: American Society of Plastic Surgeons, NHS, Smartraveller
After you fly home
healthdirect lists signs to tell your surgeon or doctor about right away: a temperature above 38°C, chills, heavy bleeding from a wound, redness around a cut that is getting worse, or pain that keeps growing.
Should lipo go wrong once you are back in Australia, the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons notes that local health services there are likely to manage it. Smartraveller warns most basic policies leave medical tourism out, so read the fine print.
An advisor keeps in touch while the swelling goes down, first in Vietnam and then at home. You are cared for by the hospital team, and clinical questions go to your surgeon.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, Smartraveller, Beauty Link team records
How Beauty Link helps with liposuction in Vietnam
We are a concierge, and we do not operate. For body contouring like lipo, we help patients from abroad choose a hospital in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. You pay us nothing; our fee comes from the hospital. Beauty Link's Co-founder, Andrew Lam, leads the team.
A few short questions come first. Then a licensed hospital joins a WhatsApp chat with you and your advisor. The hospital is asked for a treatment plan and a quote that explains what is included. Your advisor gives English speaking support, and there is airport pickup in Vietnam.
Beauty Link has a separate page on liposuction Vietnam cost.
Sources: Beauty Link team records
Questions
No. healthdirect says liposuction removes fat from under the skin. It does not remove visceral fat, which sits around your organs.
Liposuction is not a weight loss method, according to healthdirect and ASPS. It reshapes chosen areas. ASPS says it suits people near their ideal weight, so ask your surgeon what is realistic for you.
ASPS says swelling starts to go down around weeks 4 to 5, and can take several months to settle fully. Your surgeon will tell you what to expect in your case.
ASPS says results are long lasting if you keep a stable weight and general fitness. As your body ages, it is natural to lose some firmness. Large weight gain can change the result.
The answer turns on which hospital and surgeon do your lipo. Smartraveller notes that lots of overseas hospitals are on par with Australian ones, yet quality is not even. Beauty Link has a separate page on the question is plastic surgery in Vietnam safe.
healthdirect says Medicare does not cover cosmetic liposuction, and private health insurance often does not either.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Smartraveller